The Community Health Investment Program (CHIP) is a grant initiative funded by Salina Regional Health Center and administered through the Salina Regional Health Foundation. Established in 1995, CHIP aims to improve the health and wellness of individuals across north central Kansas. Through this partnership, the Foundation manages all aspects of the grant program, serving as the key point of contact for applicants and awardees. Since its inception, CHIP has provided over $13 million in grants to a range of community-based organizations, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to addressing local health challenges.
The purpose of CHIP is to support organizations that share the hospital’s mission to improve health outcomes in the region. Eligible programs and projects must align with one or more of CHIP's designated priority health areas, which include children’s health from prenatal stages through age 18, depression and mental health, issues affecting the aging population, child obesity, substance abuse and drug overdose, heart disease-related indicators, and stroke prevention and care.
CHIP grants are intended for single-year projects only. Multi-year funding applications will not be considered. Each organization may submit only one application per 12-month period, calculated from the date their previous application was reviewed by the CHIP Committee. This policy is in place to ensure fair access and review capacity, and it excludes applications to the Foundation’s separate Good Neighbor Fund program.
Applications are accepted three times per fiscal year. For the FY 2026 cycle, the deadlines are January 9, April 17, and August 14, 2026. While the Foundation has not specified a pre-application requirement, organizations must ensure they adhere to the timeline and scope requirements for each funding round. Detailed submission instructions are expected to be provided directly by the Foundation.
Evaluation criteria are not explicitly described, but it can be inferred that alignment with health priorities and community impact will play significant roles in the review process. The Salina Regional Health Foundation can be contacted directly for more information about the program or application guidelines. The primary contact email is [email protected], and the phone number is 785-452-6088.
The program has a recurring structure, offering three cycles per year. Based on the current cycle’s final deadline of August 14, 2026, and using a regular triannual cadence, the next expected cycle would begin in January 2027. This recurrence allows potential applicants to plan future submissions accordingly.
